Knitting machine cam mechanism



March 27, 1962 MT PHILIP 3,026,695

KNITTING MACHINE CAM MECHANISM Dial Cum I Set 2 Group 2 Settling Arecl Filed June 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l ums At OnL Settling Areu/ Diql Feed Cums At One Cyl. Feed 1 c a Cum 2 7 semiw iigugr i p Q T a i? Q 0 (D: Q I E r o Gil c-| Q Q o 0 l6 0 l5 9.

w w Q Q w r I s 2 o r a w I 0 Q Cylinder Cum Group 2 W ser 2 Seming Area INVENTOR. Morris Philip BY M J -I ,B 1

HIS ATTORNEYS March 27, 1962 M. PHILIP 3,026,695

KNITTING MACHINE CAM MECHANISM Filed June 50, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 a f 25 i .3 E 5 l o. v i

D 21: S v- 08 Dial Cum Group 2 Cums At One GyI.Feed

Cylinder Com Group 1 Cylinder Cum Group 2 2 INVENTOR. 5 2 Moms Phlhp Q BY HIS AT TORNEYS United States Patent ()fiice 3 ,26,695 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,026,695 KNKTTENG MAC (JAM MECHANISM Morris Philip, 26 Bruckner Blvd, Bronx, N.Y. Filed June 341, 1958, Ser. No. 745,518 7 Claims. (Cl. 66-20) This invention relates to circular knitting machines and especially to machines for knitting the interlock stitch, or other stitch employing two sets of needles in each bank. The two sets of needles may be mounted on either a conventional cylinder or a dial, or on both cylinder and dial, and each set has its own group of operating cams. Machines for knitting the interlock stitch have both cylinder and dial needles.

One set of the cylinder needles may be referred to as set 1 and may comprise the alternate needles, set 2 being composed of the intermediate needles. The needles of set 1 are usually short needles and are actuated by the cams of cam group I mounted on the cam support, or cam ring, and near the hooks of the needles. The needles of set 2 are longer needles and cam group 2 which operates them is disposed on the cam support below the group 1 cams. The dial needles are similarly arranged, that is, set 1 is composed of the alternate needles which are short needles and operated by cam group 1 of the dial cams which is arranged close to the needle hooks. The needles of dial set 2, the intermediate needles, are long needles and their operatingcams, cam group 2, are disposed radially inwardly of cam group 1.

Each group of cylinder and dial cams includes a clearing or raising cam and a stitch cam and may include a release cam. The clearing cam raises the cylinder needles (extends the dial needleslto clear the latch from the old loop and to take on yarn. The stitch cam draws the cylinder needle down (dial needle back) and knits, i.e., casts off the old loop and pulls a new one through it. The cylinder release cam raises the cylinder needles slightly to relieve stress on the yarn of the formed loops and otherwise settles the needles while the dial needles take over, that is, while the corresponding dial stitch is being drawn. 7

In knitting machines of this type as heretofore constructed the cams of each group on both the cylinder and dial were so arranged that, while the needles of one set were being operated by the three cams (clearing cam, stitch cam and release cam),. the needles of the second set of both the cylinder and dial were held in idle position by means of a guide cam. In other words while the needles of one set were knitting, the needles of the other set were idle. This applied to the dial needles as well as the cylinder needles.

The aim of the present invention is to increase the productivity of knitting machines of this type, and, moreover, to accomplish this without increasing the angularity of the cams.

In accordance with the invention the cams of one group are so arranged with respect to the cams of the second group, on either or both cylinder and dial, as to cause the needles of the second set to begin to rise (or extend-in the case of the dial needles) While the needles of the first set are still on the way down (or on the way in) drawing the stitch, so that the needles of the second set reach their high point approximately as the needles of the first set complete their cycle, and, further, so that the needles of the first set commence to move up (or be extended), to clear and to take on yarn, before the needles of the second set reach the bottom (or inner end) of their movement and complete the stitch.

This arrangement of the cams has the surprising result that, for example, on a thirty inch knitting machine it has been possible to increase the number of feeds from thirty-two to forty-eight, an increase of fifty percent in the number of feeds for the same size of apparatus.

The invention will be further understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following additional description. In these drawings:

' FIG. 1 is a bottom face view of a portion of the dial cams constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an inside face view of a development of a portion of the cylinder cams constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 1a and 2a are similar views showing the dial and cylinder cams as arranged in accordance with the prior art.

Referring first to FIG. 2a, this shows the cam arrangement for the cylinder needles as heretofore employed, the row of cams in the upper half of this figure constituting the cams of group 1, while the lower row constitutes the cams of group 2. Both cam groups are carried on a cam ring 5 which rotates counter clockwise as indicated by the arrow, the cams being viewed from the inside in both FIGS. 2 and 2a. The group 1 cams operate the cylinder needles of set 1, that is, the short and alternate needles, whereas the group 2 cams operate the long needles which are placed intermediate the other needles and constitute set 2.

correspondingly, in FIG. 1a the lower circle of cams will be referred to as group 1 and they operate the short dial needles (dial set 1), whereas the inner circle of cams constitue group 2 and operate the long dial needles (dial set 2.)

In FIG. 2a the cylinder cams of cam group 1, at any one feed, comprise a clearing cam C1, a stitch arm S1, a release cam R1 and a guide cam G1. Similarly, the cams of cam group 2 comprise a guide cam G2, a clearing cam C2, a stitch cam S2, and a release cam R2. The dial cams of groups 1 and 2 (FIG. 1a) are similarly designated, and they are carried on the dial cap 6 which also rotates counterclockwise as indicated, the cams being viewed from beneath.

Guide cam G2 is straight and parallel to the edge of the cylinder throughout the extent of cams C1, S1 and R1, and guide cam G1 is parallel throughout the extent of cams C2, S2 and R2. Consequently it will be understood that while the cylinder cams C1, S1, and R1 are operating the needles of set 1 to clear, take on yarn and knit, cylinder cam G2 of cam group 2 maintains the cylinder needles of set 2 in idleness. Also following the completion of the knitting cycle of set 1, the needles of this set are held idle while the needles of set 2 are operated by cams C2, S2 and R2 of cam group 2 to clear, take on yarn and knit.

Referring to FIG. 1a which shows the dial cams in bottom view, the guide cams GID and G2D are circular instead of straight, so that while the needles of set 1 at any given feed are being operated to knit by the cams C1D, 81D and R1D, the needles of set 2 at this feed are held inoperative or idle. Also the needles of set 1 at any feed are held idle, while the cams C2D, 82D, and R2D carry the needles of set 2 at this feed through a knitting cycle.

Such is not the situation, however, in the cam arrangement of the present invention. This will be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2 which show the cams in face view, FIG. 1 looking from the bottom and FIG. 2 from the inside. The cam ring 7 (FIG. 2) carries the cylinder cam groups 1 and 2, and the dial cap 8 (FIG. 1) the dial cam groups 1 and 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the guide cam G1 of cylinder cam group 1, instead of being straight and horizontal throughout the extent of the knitting cycle of the cams of cylinder cam group 2, as in FIG. 2a, is terminated at about its mid-portion. The leading or lower end 9 of clearing cam C1 is located at a point substantially vertically above the trailing or lower end 10 of stitch cam S2 and, in order to take full advantage of the invention, such upward cam curve commences somewhat to the left of the lower end 10 so that the needles controlled by clearing cam C1, of cylinder cam group 1 commence to rise while the needles of set 2 (which are controlled by earn group 2) are still on their way down and have not yet completed the stitch.

Cylinder clearing cam C1 has been shifted to a position above the release cam R2 and the area within which the needles of set 2 are being settled, and, consequently, the needles of set 1 reach their high point (determined by the peak 11 of clearing cam C1) at about the same time that the needles of set 2 complete their cycle and pass point 12 and under the control of guide cam G2 of cam group 2. Cylinder clearing cam C1 and the needle settling area of cylinder cam group 2 (cylinder set 2 settling area) including release cam R2, are in alignment with the dial clearing cam C1D and the dial needle settling area of dial cam group 2 including the dial release cam R2D, so that during the clearing of the set 1 cylinder needles, which are controlled by cylinder cam C1, and during the settling of the cylinder needles of set 2 controlled by cylinder cam group 2 including release cam R2, the set 1 dial needles (controlled by the group 1 dial cams) take over and form the corresponding dial stitch.

Similarly, cylinder clearing cam C2 has been shifted to the left and its leading or lower end 13 (FIG. 2) is substantially vertically below the trailing or lower end 14 of stitch cam S1, and is to the left of the lower end 14 when full advantage of the invention is taken. This results in the needles of cylinder set 2 commencing to move upwardly before the needles of set I reach the bottom of their movement (lower end 14) that is, somewhat before they have completed the stitch. Likewise the needles of set 2 reach their high point (determined by the peak 15 of cam C2) at about the same time that the needles of set 1 complete their cycle and pass point 16 and under the control of guide cam G1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the arrangement of the dial cams does not differ greatly. That is to say, the leading or left end 9D of dial clearing cam C1D is in advance of (to the left of) the upper or inner end 10D of stitch cam S2D, so that the set 1 dial needles which are under the control of the dial cam group 1 begin to be extended before the stitch cam S2D of cam dial group'Z actuates the needles of dial set 2 to complete their stitches. Also the leading or left end 13D of dial clearing cam C2D is in advance of the inner or upper end 11D of stitch cam SID so that the dial needles of set 1 that are controlled by the cams of dial cam group 1 begin to be extended before the stitch cam 81B of dial cam group 1 causes the dial needles of set 1 to complete their stitches.

I claim:

1. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having two groups of cams one for each of said needle sets, the improvement wherein the cams of one of said groups are so alranged with respect to the cams of the second group as to cause the needles of the second set to begin their clearing movement while the needles of the first set are still moving to knit so that the needles of the second set reach their point of extreme movement approximately as the needles of the first set complete their cycle, and further so that the needles of the first set commence movement to clear before the needles of the second set complete their knitting movement.

2. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having two groups of cams one for each of said needle sets, the improvement wherein the cams of one of said groups are so arranged with respect to the cams of the second group as to cause the needles of the second set to begin to rise while the needles of the first set are still on the way down so that the needles of the second set reach their high point approximately as the needles of the first set complete their cycle, and further so that the needles of the first set commence to move up before the needles of the second set reach the bottom of their movement.

3. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having two groups of cams one for each of said needle sets, the improvement wherein the cams of one of said groups are so arranged with respect to the cams of the second group as to cause the needles of the second set to begin to extend while the needles of the first set are still on the way in so that the needles of the second set reach their extreme outward point approximately as the needles of the first set complete their cycle, and further so that the needles of the first set commence to move out before the needles of the second set reach their extreme inward position.

4. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having first and second groups of cams for actuating the needles of the respective sets, each of said cam groups including a clearing cam and a stitch cam, the improvement wherein the leading ends of the clearing cams of said second cam group are positioned approximately vertically beneath the trailing ends of the stitch cams of said first cam group, and the leading ends of the clearing cams of said first cam group are positioned approximately vertically above the respective trailing ends of the stitch cams of said second cam group.

5. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having first and second groups of cams for actuating the needles of the respective sets, each of said cam groups including a clearing cam and a stitch cam, the improvement wherein the leading ends of the clearing cams of said second cam group are positioned approximately vertically beneath and slightly in advance of the trailing ends of the stitch cams of said first cam group, and the leading ends of the clearing cams of said first cam group are positioned approximately vertically above and slightly in advance of the respective trailing ends of the stitch cams of said second cam group.

6. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having first and second groups of cams for actuating the needles of the respective sets, each of said cam groups including a clearing cam, a stitch cam, and a guide cam, the improvement wherein the peaks of the clearing cams of said first cam group are positioned approximately in alignment with the leading ends of the guide cams of said second cam group, and the peaks of the clearing cams of the second cam group are approximately in alignment with the leading ends of the guide cams of said first cam group.

7. In a camming mechanism for a circular knitting machine employing two sets of needles and having first and second groups of cams for actuating the needles of the respective sets, each of said cam groups comprising a clearing cam, a stitch cam, and a needle settling area including a release cam, the improvement wherein the clearing cams of said first cam group are positioned ap- 5 proximately in alignment with the respective release cams and settling areas of said second cam group, and the clearing cams of said second cam group are positioned approximately in alignment with the respective release cams and settling areas of said first cam group.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scott Apr. Ballard Oct.

Lornax Aug Glenn Sept. Barth Sept. Wildt et a1. Dec.

Reichert Nov Miller Dec FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 'OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,026,695 March 27, 1962 Morris Philip It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that. the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 39, for "arm" read cam Signed and sealed this 10th day of July 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

